Coalition Members Meet Virtually with Representative Tonko

Three members of the Coalition for Medicare Choices (CMC) participated in a virtual meeting with Representative Paul Tonko (D-NY-20) to share stories about how Medicare Advantage provides high-quality care and services.

Coalition member Dan shared that he worked in Washington, D.C. for 37 years and he received Medicare Advantage coverage as a retirement benefit. As a disabled veteran from Vietnam, Medicare Advantage has been very important in helping him receive the health care he needs.

Laura, another Coalition member, explained that Medicare Advantage and the benefits the program provides have been pivotal to maintaining good health, especially as a breast cancer survivor who relies on health care screenings. She stressed that Medicare Advantage telehealth was very important to seniors during the pandemic. She said, “My Medicare Advantage card is not just a card in my wallet, it is my gateway to great health care.”

Medicare Advantage advocate Erin works with a nonprofit that helps seniors. Erin told the group that health care is a top priority for seniors she works with. Medicare Advantage provides many benefits, like vision and dental, that are not typically covered with original Medicare. She added that the affordability of Medicare Advantage is essential for seniors living on fixed or limited incomes.

Representative Tonko thanked the advocates for their stories, adding that Medicare Advantage is a system that works and that, “if it isn’t broken, it doesn’t need to be fixed or changed.”

The CMC is grateful to Representative Tonko for meeting with our Coalition members and for his continued support of Medicare Advantage.